Calculus of Variations Demystified
We use the calculus of variations to optimize functionals.
You read it right: functionals not functions.
But what are functionals? What does a functional really look like?
Moreover, there is this thing called the Euler-Lagrange equation.
What is it? How is it useful?
How do we derive such equation?
If you have any of the above questions, you are in the right place.
I’ll demystify it for you.
The shortest path problem
Suppose we want to find out the shortest path from the point A to the point B.
If there is no obstacle, the answer should be the straight line from A to B.
But for now, let’s forget the fact that we know the answer.
